Ignition apparatus



Oct. 23, 1934. B, EHRLICH 1,978,380

IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 23, 1934.EHRLICH 1,978,380

IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WW/WXM m.

Oct. 23, 1934. L a HRUCH 1,978,380

IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 23,1934 IGNITION APPARATUS Louis' B. Ehrlich, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to TheElectric Auto-Lite Company, Ioledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application December 4, 1929, Serial No. 411,524

14 Claims. ((1200-31) This invention relates to ignition systems andapparatus for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines, and moreparticularly to a timer and distributor mechanism used in an ignitionsystem for automatically timing and distributing the ignition sparks foran engine of this type.

,The inventionyhas for an object the'provision of an improved device ofthis character inwhich the time of occurrence of the sparks shall be1511) automatically advanced asthe speed of the engine increases. Theinvention further embraces an automatic spark advancing mechanismwherein by making relatively slight changes in structural detailsorarrangements the character or rate of :516 change of spark advance maybe varied.

The invention contemplates a centrifugal device for controlling,andcregulating the time of occurrence of the spark which is of simpleand compact construction capable of being produced 2) in largequantities at aminimum cost and which is not liable to get out of order.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention;such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the relatedelements of the structure, to various details of construction and tocombinations of parts, elements per se, and to. economies of manufactureand numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specifica- Mao-U101]. and drawings of certain forms of theinvention, which may be preferred iin which Figure l is a verticalsectional view through a; timing and distributing mechanism embodying myinvention; L as Figure 2 is atop plan view of the structure shown inFigure 1'; a

Figure 3' is a detail elevational view ofthe cam member and centrifugaldevice;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the parts'shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified form of myinvention;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Figure 5;

I Figure 7 is a detail view-showing another form of my invention;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a detail view showing still. another form of my invention;Figure 10 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Figure 9; I

Figure 11- is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially onthe line 11-11 of Figure. 10;

Figure 12 is a top plan view of a timing and distributing mechanism,certain parts being removed;

Figure 13 is a detail side elevational view of parts illustrated inFigure 4;

Figure 14 is a detail side elevational view of the parts illustrated inFigure 6.

I have illustrated my invention as incorporated in a combined timer and,distributor mechanism for internal combustion engines, but it is to beunderstood that I contemplate the use of my invention wherever the samemay be found applicable. Referring to the drawings in detail, theoperative parts of the timer and distributor of my invention aresuitably enclosed within a cupshaped housing Shaving an integraldownwardly extending stem 6, the cup-like portion of the housing 5supporting the distributor cap 7 of suitable insulating material.Obviously the housing 5 issupported by the stem 6 which alsoprovicles-ample bearing surface for a shaft 9 adapted to be driven bythe internal combustion engine (not shown). The distributor cap 7 isdetachably mounted upon the housing 5 being secured thereto by means ofa pair of resilient clips 10, the latter being pivoted upon suitablemembers 12 secured to the housing by means of screws 13, the clips v10engaging suitable notches 14 formed in opposing walls of the cap '7. Thedistributor cap is also formed with a plurality of terminal inserts 16to which the high tension leads may be connected, and whose inner endslie adjacent the path of travel of a suitable current distributing armor contact distributorl'l.

The housing 5 is separated into two compart- I ments by means of a plate20 formed with a plurality of upwardly projecting ears 2,1 which haveopenings adapted to receive the inner ends of the screws 13; Obviouslythe screws 13 perform two functions viz., that of holding the pivotalmembers 12 in position, and fixedly retaining the plate 20 within thehousing 5. The mechanism for-periodically'separating the interruptercontacts in the circuit comprises a sleeve 23 mounted upon the reducedupper extremity 24 of the shaft 9, the sleeve being formed with a cam orcontact controller 25. The cam 25 is preferably constructed with aplurality of lobes 26 which are adapted, when the shaft 9 is rotated, tointermittently engage a rubbing block 28 (referringparticularly toFigure12) fixedly secured to a breaker lever 29, the latter being suitablypivoted at one extremity upon a pin 30 carried by the plate 20. Formedout of the plate 20 is an upwardly projecting finger 32 having athreaded opening the cylinders of the engine.

adapted to receive a contact member 33. The contact member 33 isrendered adjustable and may be locked in its adjusted position by meansof a nut 34, the contact member 33 being adapted for cooperativeengagement with a contact 35 fixed to the extremity of the breaker lever29.

The breaker lever 29 is electrically connected by means of resilientmetallic strips 31 to a binding post 37 insulatingly supported upon thecasing 5, one of the strips 31 being preferably made of good currentconducting material as, for example, copper, the other strip beingconstructed of resilient material as, for example, spring steel for thepurpose of urging the breaker lever in a direction to keep the rubbingblock '28 in constant cooperative engagement with the lobes 26 of thecam 25.

Spark advancing mechanism For the eflicient operation of an internalcombustion engine of the variable speed type, it is desirable that thetime of igniting of the charges in the cylinders be advancedproportionately with increased speed of the engine. To this end Iprovide a centrifugal means for varying the time of spark occurrencecomprising a support or plate 38 which is fixed to'a non-circularportion 36 of the shaft 9. In the assembly of the plate 36 on the driveshaft 9, the plate is pressed on to the portion 36 and a part of theshaft adjacent the non-circular portion is spun or swaged over as shownat 39, and in this manner prevents any displacement of these parts.

Fixedly secured to the lower extremity of the cam sleeve 23 is alaterally extending member 41 formed with downwardly extending flanges42 and 43. The'plate 38 is provided with upwardly projecting pins orstuds 44 which are adapted to form pivotal supports for disc-likeweights 45 and 46. The studs 44 are provided with shoulders 47 forsupporting the weights 45 and 46 offering a minimum contact surfacetherefor, thus materially decreasing the friction required to beovercome before the weights can be moved. The flanges 42 and 43 of themember 41 are adapted to embrace the edges of the discs 45 and 46 for apurpose to be hereinafter explained. It

will be apparent from examination of Figures 3 and 4 that the weights 45and 46 are pivoted eccentrically upon the pins 44 so that rotation ofthe structure causes the weights 45 and 46 to swing outwardly under theaction of centrifugal force. The member 41 and cam sleeve 23 'areresiliently held in their normal position by means of tension plates orsprings 49 which are secured as by means of rivets 50'to upwardlyprojecting flanges 51 formed upon the plate 38.

the axis of the cam 25, and in so doing the con tour of the flanges 42and 43 is such as to cause the cam 25 to move or to change its positionrelative to. the drive shaft 9 for the purpose of advancingthe time ofthe occurrence of the sparks for igniting the combustible mixture in Asthis advance action of the cam takes place, the springs 49 are flexedout of their normal position, and obviously great numbers.

as the speed of the engine decreases, the centrifugal force acting uponthe weights 44 and 45 becomes less and the springs 49 tend to return theplate 41 and the cam 25 to their initial or normal positions. In orderto adapt a device of my invention for use with various types of enginesrequiring different characteristics of sparking ad- Vance or rate ofadvance, those portions of the flanges 51 supporting the springs 49 areseparated from the plate 38 by means of a kerf or slot 52 asparticularly shown in Figure 13. By this means the end of the flangesupporting the springs 49 may be bent or distorted to change theeffective force exerted by the springs 49 against the guiding flanges 42and 43 and thereby change the rate 'of movement of the cam relative tothe shaft 9 and thus change the rate of advance of the sparking means.In this construction the majority of the parts are formed out of sheetmaterial which readily enhances the interchangeability of parts, andmaterially reduces the cost of production particularly when the partsare manufactured in In some installations it is desirable to have amanual control for the spark advancing mechanism in addition to theautomatic control; For this purpose I have illustrated an arm 8 securedto the stem 6 for bodily shifting theposition of the housing 5 relativeto the support (not shown) and the shaft 9.

In the form of my invention shown in Figures 5, 6 and 14, the device isvery similar" to the form hereinbefore described withthe exception thatthe weight guiding member 55 embraces a pair of circular weights 56 andis substantially rectangular in form having the downwardly extendingflanges 57 engaging the peripheries of the weights 56. In thisform theweights are also mounted eccentrically and under the action ofcentrifugal force are thrown outwardly causing the plate 55 and the cam25 to be moved relative to the shaft 9 as has been hereinbeforedescribed. In this form of the invention the innermost and outermostpositions of the weights 56 are determined by means of stops 59 and 60which are formed from the flanges 57 of the member 55.

In this form of device I have provided a different means of adjustingthe effective tension of the'spring against the guiding member 55 whenit is desirable to adapt this form of de- 'vice for different types ofengines requiring different spark advancingcharacteristics. To this endtheextremities of the flanges 51 adjacent the free ends of the springs49 are separated from the supporting plate 38 by means of a kerf 63 sothat by distorting or bending the ends of the flanges 51, the effectiveleverage of the spring pressure acting upon the member 55 may be varied.

In the form of device shown in Figures 7 and. 8, shaft '9 carries aplate 65 supporting the Weights 66 which is provided with upwardlyprojecting ears 6? to which are secured coil springs 68. The springs arealso connected to pins 69 secured upon a member 70 which is similar inconstruction to the member 41 shown in Figure 4. The springs 68obviously tend to hold the member '70, cam 25 and weights 66 in theirnormal position. 'In this form of device the rated advance of thesparking means may be adjusted by merely bending the ears 67 supportingthe outermost ends of the springs 68 thereby changing the tension of thesprings.

In the form of device shown in Figures 9, l0 and 11 a substantiallycircular plate '75 is fixedly secured to the drive shaft 9 and isprovided with studs 7-7 supporting the weights '78 A substantiallyrectangular member '79 is provided with diametrically aligned slots 8-1formed by bending up adjacent portions 82o-f themember 79. The weights78 are provided with upwardly projecting pins 84 which are received intothe slots 81. cam 25 is retained in its normal position by means ofcoil" springs 85 whosetension may be adjusted by bending ears 86 formedup from the'plate 75. In the operation of this form of the device theweightsacting under centrifugal force are thrown outwardly causing thepins 84 to move longitudinallyof the slots 8landthe member 79 to bemoved relative to the drive shaft 9, thus changing the relative positionof the interrupter cam 25 and thus causing a change in the time ofoccurrence of the sparks.

It is apparent that, Within the scope of the invention modifications anddifferent arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, andthe present disclosure is illustrative merely, the inventioncomprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A governing device for the ignition means of an internal combustionengine, the combination of a cam member; a pivotally mounted weight;guiding means embracing said weight fixedly secured to said cam member;and means comprising a flat resilient member adapted for engagement withsaid guiding means to oppose movement thereof relative to said weight.

2. A governing device for the ignition means of an internal combustionengine, the combination of a cam' member; a disc-like pivotallymountedweight; guiding means for said weight fixedly secured to said cammember, said guiding means having portions embracing the contour of saidweight; and means comprising a resilient member adapted to opposemovement of said Weight.

3. A governing device for the ignition means of an internal combustionengine, the combination of a cam member; a disc-like eccentricallymounted weight; guiding means for said weight fixedly secured to saidcam member, said guiding means having portions embracing said weight;means comprising a resilient member adapted to oppose the movement ofsaid weight; and means forming a part of said guiding means limiting therelative movement between said weight and said guiding means.

4. A governing device for the ignition means of an internal combustionengine, the combination of a cam member; .a pivotally mounted weight;guiding means for said weight fixedly se-l cured to said cam member,said guiding means having portions contacting with the periphery of saidweight, said portionsv adapted to limit the initial and final movementof said weight,

5. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a shaft; asupport fixedto said shaft; a cam member; a plurality of disc-likeweights pivotally mounted upon said support; channel shaped guidingmeans for said weights fixed to said cam member and relatively movablewith respect to said support; and means including a spring adapted forengagement with said guiding means to oppose relative movement of saidguiding means and said weights.

6. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a shaft; asupport fixed to said shaft; a cam member; a plurality of weightspivotally mounted upon said support; guiding means Themember '79 towhich is secured.

for said weights fixed to said cam member and having flanged portionsadapted to embrace said weights, said guiding means being formed tolimit therelative movement of said weights with re spect'to saidguiding'means and a spring adapted to cooperate with said guiding meansfor opposing relative movement of said weights with respect to saidsupport.

7. A device of the character disclosed including a rotary elementadapted to be rotated at a variable speed; a cylindrical disceccentrically pivoted with respect to said rotary element, said discbeing mounted for movement in a plane at substantially right angles tothe axis of rotation of said element; means to oppose the movementdistributor arm, said contact controller and "dis tributor' arm beingcontrolled by the movement of said cylindrical disc.

8. An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising, incombination, a shaft; a support carried by said shaft; a contactcontroller; means responsive to centrifugal force for causing movementof said contact controller relative to said shaft including a channelshaped member carried by said contact controller; means for opposingmovement of said centrifugal responsive means relative to said shaft inengagement with said channel shaped member; and means for adjustingtheresistance of said opposing means.

9. A governing device for an ignition system of an internal combustionengine comprising, in combination, a shaft; a support carried by saidshaft; a cam member; meansincluding a substantially circular revolvableelement eccentrically pivoted responsive to centrifugal force forcausing movement of said cam member relative to said shaft; means foropposing movement of centrifugal means relative to said cam member; andmeans for adjusting the resistance of said opposing means.

10. In a device of'the character disclosed, the combination of a shaft;a plate secured to said shaft; a plurality of circular weightseccentrically pivoted upon said plate; a cam member; guiding means forsaid weights fixedly secured to said cam member, said weights havingmeans engageable with said guiding means for causing relative movementof said cam member relative to said shaft; and resilient means fornormally opposing relative movement of said cam member with respect tosaid shaft.

ll. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a shaft;a plate fixed to said shaft; a cam member; a plurality of weightspivotally mounted upon said plate; guiding means for said weights fixedto said cam member and having flanged portions adaptedto embrace saidweights, said guiding means being formed with stop members adapted tolimit the relative movement of said weights with respect to said guidingmeans; and means including a spring secured to said plate for opposingrelative movement of said weights, the supporting means for said springbeing capable of distortion for regulating the effective tension of saidspring.

12. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a shaft;a plate secured to said shaft; a plurality of weights pivotallysupported upon said plate; a cam member; guiding means for said weightscomprising an elongated memweights and projecting into said slotswhereby movement of said weights act to shift the position of saidguiding means relative to saidplate; and

)means including a spring for normally opposing 7 relative movement ofsaid weights with-respect to said guiding means; and distortable meansconnected to said spring for varying the effective tension of saidspring. a v I 13. A device of the character-disclosed including a rotaryelement adapted to be rotated at a variable speed; a cylindrical disceccentrically pivoted to said rotary element, said disc being mounted ina plane at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation of saidelement; means .oomprising a resilient element to oppose the movement ofsaid disc; distortable means to change the effective force of saidresilient element acting upon said disc; a cam element; a

distributor arm, said arm element and distributor arm controlled by themovement of said cylindrical disc. y

14. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a shaft;a plate secured to said shaft; a plurality of Weights pivotallysupported;;

"upon said plate; a cam member; guiding means effective tension of saidspring.

LOUIS B. EHRLICH.

